This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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218 Time Out opens in Glasgow
30/01/2004
218 Time Out, a new centre in Glasgow designed to provide an
effective community-based alternative to sending women to
prison for short periods, was officially opened today.
The first of its kind in the UK, it will receive
referrals from the courts, procurators fiscal, social
workers and the police.
The centre, which receives an annual grant of £1.54
million from the Executive, combines a detox facility,
residential unit and day programmes, and provides support
and outreach to health, social work and housing
services.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson, speaking ahead of the
opening at 218 Bath Street, said rehabilitation - as well
as appropriate punishment - is the smart option not a soft
option for women who offend, Justice Minister Cathy
Jamieson said today.
218 Time Out is designed to accommodate up to 135 women in the
course of a year in the residential units, and 400 women
will be able to use the day facilities annually.
Ms Jamieson said:
"Today, like every other day in Glasgow's courtrooms,
women will be appearing before Sheriffs for sentence. On
average, 277 women are inside Scotland's prisons each day
and a disproportionate number of them come from the Glasgow
area.
"Most women offenders are mothers, are unemployed, have
had problems at school, have few qualifications, are on
state benefits and in debt, have suffered some form of
abuse, have serious problems with alcohol and drug misuse.
A significant proportion had been in local authority care
as children and some had lost care of their own
children.
"Many have committed minor offences and pose very little
risk to their communities. It is generally accepted that
imprisoning a woman can have a disastrous effect on her
family as well as herself.
"I believe that the Executive has done much to find a
more effective way to deal with women in the criminal
justice system. We can't tackle their offending behaviour
and stop them from re-offending unless we tackle the root
causes of their offending.
"I believe the
218 Time Out centre in Glasgow can do
that. Without this centre many of these women would end up
in Cornton Vale for short periods.
The shortness of their sentence means that prison staff
are unable to work with them to address the underlying
issues that result in their offending behaviour - but the
staff at Time Out can.
"
218 Time Out is not a soft option. It is a
rigorous community alternative to which the courts,
Procurators Fiscal, and other services can refer women to.
It will challenge behaviour and attitudes as well as offer
help.
"There may be more 'Time Outs' around the country in the
future, but I want us to concentrate on making this centre
work, and work well, before considering how and if it could
be applied to other parts of the country.
"Yes, of course some women should be in prison. But
prison is not the best option for less serious offenders
who stand a better chance getting their lives back on track
through community sentences like '218 Time Out' - the smart
option not a soft option."
The new centre is operated by Turnaround in partnership
with Glasgow City Council Criminal Justice Social Work and
NHS Greater Glasgow.